Workplace loneliness is on the rise, and it’s about time we address the decline of community at work. Apotek Hjartat, a leading pharmaceutical chain in Sweden, is testing a new “friendship hour” concept with its workers, offering employees an opportunity to bond with their colleagues or make new friends during working hours. The “friendcare” program is currently in its trial phase, offering those who agreed to participate in the program 1,000 kronor ($100) for their contribution to the pilot and for their use during the friendship hour.
In exchange, participants are granted 15 minutes a week or an hour a month to reconnect with their friends or make new ones. The friendship hour concept can be easily duplicated in any organization that wants to test ways to improve employee well-being, its simplicity being its greatest strength.
A Swedish pharmacy is experimenting with a “friendship hour” pilot program designed to address loneliness and workplace well-being. (Image: Pexels)
A Pharmacy In Sweden Is Testing Out a “Friendship Hour” Program to Improve Employee Well-Being
The rise of loneliness at work is not exclusive to Sweden. A new report from Edenred found that that 40% of US workers report feeling isolated in 2025. This sense of loneliness is not exclusive to the workplace and is often experienced by individuals in their daily lives as well. However, the mental state of an employee is relevant to their overall well-being, and does get reflected in the workplace as a result.
The Swedish friendship trial is an innovative way to experiment with ways to help employees build and bolster their connections while at work, allowing them to use their time for some degree of socialization as well. Apotek Hjartat, one of Sweden’s largest pharmaceutical chains, is now leading this workplace social hour trial.
How Does the Friendship Hour Concept Work?
For now, the paid friendship hour trial is surprisingly small in scale. There are currently 11 participants in the trial, all of whom are allotted either an hour a month or 15 minutes every week to socialize. Considering how employees spend the majority of their waking hours at work, there is often little time left for most to call their friends and family or meet new people to create connections.
One of the participants in the trial told the BBC about her reasons for participating, explaining, “I’m really tired when I go home. I don’t have time or energy to meet my friends.” The Sweden friendship hour pilot program doesn’t restrict what employees do during their allotted friendcare time. Having experienced the pilot program since April last year, she has been free to use the time to chat on the phone or even make actual plans to connect with her loved ones later in person. “I feel happier. You can’t live through the internet like most people do these days.“
Improving Workplace Well-being and Addressing Loneliness Is the Need of the Hour
Sweden’s attempt to combat loneliness at work is easy to replicate for businesses that want to create a more open and holistic workplace that supports employee interests. The work culture in Sweden is often credited for being considerate of employees, facilitating benefits like wellness allowances or generous paid leave policies. The Swedish coffee break, or “fika” tradition, similarly allows workers to slow down and unite over food, creating another instance of community building.
The work culture in the region is often applauded for being laid back, and the workplace social hour trial signals another possible win for workers in the area. The results of the pilot may be limited due to the small sample size, but it is a concept worth exploring further. Businesses in the US can similarly determine strategies to encourage workers to build and maintain social connections, extending both in and out of the workplace.
The more that employees have a stable network ready to support and comfort them, the more likely they are to find stability internally. Workplace conflicts, absenteeism, and disengagement are likely to go down as a result, leaving an organization with a culture that only improves with time.
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